using coppellation, the usual process for extracting silver from lead.

Brownrigg recognized that platinum was a new element,

but he concluded that repeating the usual refining process

would only gradually dissipate the platina entirely,

as described in a letter to the Royal Society in 1750.

Carl von Sickingen in 1772 and Franz Karl Achard in 1784 produced

malleable alloys of platinum and concluded it wasn’t malleable.

Thus the matter seemed intractable, until

William Hyde Wollaston and Smithson Tennant formed

a secret partnership to refine metals from platina ore,

resulting not only in malleable platinum in 1805,

but also discovering palladium in 1802,

osmium in 1803, iridium in 1803, and rhodium in 1804.

Atomic number 78

Platinum is harder and less reactive than gold,

but useful as a catalyst.

In a car’s catalytic converter, platinum

converts carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and water.

In a small handwarmer, platinum converts methyl alcohol

into formaldehyde and heats up in the process.

In a fuel cell, platinum combines hydrogen and oxygen

to produce water and electricity.

Plus if you can afford it, platinum jewellery

or other platinum accessory conveys prestige like nothing else.

Stuff that doesn’t tarnish

Platinum

is more

prestigious

more rare

more durable

more expensive than gold

but nothing

to compare

to you.

After all, in regard to the sentiment expressed in “Stuff that doesn’t tarnish,”
these are made of, as it were, poetry, not only science.
Ladies and gentlemen, you have my permission to put that poem into your next Valentine card
(not for commercial purposes).